Ranfurly Shield 1940–1949

The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is perhaps the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies. The holding union must defend the Shield in challenge matches, and if a challenger defeats them, they become the new holder of the Shield.

Holders

Two different unions held the Ranfurly Shield between 1940 and 1949. Due to the outbreak of World War 2, however, no matches were played between 1940 and 1945.

Union Won Successful
defences
Southland Held at beginning of decade 5
Otago 2 August 1947 17

Fixtures

1946

3 August 1946
Southland 3–0 Otago
Pen: Tom Webster
Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
24 August 1946
Southland 11–3 Canterbury
Try: E.D. Calder
Con: Tom Webster
Pen: Tom Webster (2)		Try: W.P. McHugh
Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
31 August 1946
Southland 35–9 South Canterbury
Try: A.S. Chandler (4),
Alexander Sutherland (2),
R.H. Hazlett,
N.J. Bennett,
R.F. Waldron
Con: Tom Webster (2)
Drop: R.F. Waldron		Try: P.G. Fitzgerald
Con: R.G. Prattley
Drop: G.W. Pratt
Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
Attendance: 7,000[1]
Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
7 September 1946
Southland 12–3 Wairarapa
Try: R.H. Hazlett
Pen: Tom Webster (2),
R.J. Campbell		Pen: M.P. Hurley
Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
Referee: E.J. Barron (Southland)
28 September 1946
Southland 15–3 North Otago
Try: Alexander Sutherland (2),
J.J. Prendiville,
R.H. Hazlett
Pen: Tom Webster		Pen: E.V. Wright
Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
Referee: J.J. North (Southland)

1947

2 August 1947
Southland 11–17 Otago
Try: G.S. Kennedy,
G.H. Spittle
Con: L.F. Ward
Pen: L.F. Ward		Try: Ron Elvidge (2),
Ian Botting,
John Tanner
Con: Rex Orr
Pen: Rex Orr
Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill
Attendance: 21,000[2]
Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
9 August 1947
Otago 31–12 North Auckland
Try: John Tanner,
L.S. Woodhouse,
Graham Moore,
Jim Kearney
Con: Rex Orr (3)
Pen: Rex Orr (3)
Drop: Jim Kearney		Try: Doc Paewai
Pen: Nau Cherrington (3)
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 25,000[3]
Referee: J.J. North (Southland)
20 August 1947
Otago 18–12 Auckland
Try: John Tanner,
Ron Elvidge
Con: Laurie Haig
Pen: Laurie Haig (2)
Drop: Jim Kearney		Try: Les Deas (2)
Con: Bob Scott
Drop: D.J. Ewert
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: Leslie Walsh (Canterbury)
13 September 1947
Otago 8–0 Southland
Try: Kevin O'Connor
Con: Jim Kearney
Pen: Jim Kearney
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: J.G.G. Fitzpatrick (Wellington)
27 September 1947
Otago 42–3 North Otago
Try: Ron Elvidge (2),
Kevin O'Connor (2),
John Tanner,
Ian Botting,
Graham Moore,
D.H. Hamilton,
Jim Kearney,
Jack McNab,
L.S. Woodhouse
Con: Rex Orr
Pen: Rex Orr
Drop: Jim Kearney		Try: M.D. Fountain
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 12,300[4]
Referee: L.K. Murray (South Canterbury)

1948

31 July 1948
Otago 25–0 Southland
Try: Bill Meates (3),
Ian Botting (2),
Ray Dalton,
Ron Elvidge
Con: Laurie Haig,
Graham Moore
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 30,000[5]
Referee: Arthur Fong (West Coast)
18 August 1948
Otago 31–0 Canterbury
Try: Jim Kearney (2),
Bill Meates,
L.S. Woodhouse,
Ian Botting
Laurie Haig,
Ron Elvidge
Con: Jim Kearney,
Laurie Haig
Pen: Laurie Haig (2)
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: R. Ferguson (Southland)
21 August 1948
Otago 20–3 Wanganui
Try: Bill Meates (3),
L.S. Woodhouse,
Laurie Haig
Con: Laurie Haig
Drop: Jim Kearney		Try: Don Beard
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: L.K. Murray (South Canterbury)
28 August 1948
Otago 12–6 Hawke's Bay
Try: Ian Botting
Pen: Laurie Haig (2),
Graham Moore		Pen: Barney Wishnowsky (2)
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: Bill Firmin (Wellington)
4 September 1948
Otago 40–0 Poverty Bay
Try: Jim Kearney (3),
Kevin O'Connor (2),
Ian Botting (2),
Bill Meates,
Laurie Haig
L.S. Woodhouse,
Ron Elvidge
Con: Laurie Haig (2)
Pen: Graham Moore
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 9,000[6]
Referee: Robert Pratt (Buller)
8 September 1948
Otago 36–6 South Canterbury
Try: Bill Meates (5),
Laurie Haig,
Ron Elvidge,
Jim Kearney
Con: Laurie Haig (3)
Pen: Laurie Haig (2)		Try: J.L. Taylor
Pen: R.G. Prattley
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: J.G.G. Fitzpatrick (Wellington)
25 September 1948
Otago 11–0 Wellington
Try: Ian Botting,
Peter Johnstone
Con: Laurie Haig
Drop: Jim Kearney
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: George Sullivan (Taranaki)

1949

30 July 1949
Otago 6–6 Buller
Try: N.M. McKenzie
Pen: Graham Moore		Try: R.P. Hawes,
W.M. Cunniffe
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: Leslie Walsh (Canterbury)
6 August 1949
Otago 22–3 Manawatu
Try: Bert Lunn,
Kevin O'Connor,
Ray Bell,
C.J. MacDonald
Con: Ray Bell,
Willis Perriam
Pen: Ray Bell,
Willis Perriam		Pen: H.D. Harkness
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: T.V. Cahill (North Otago)
13 August 1949
Otago 6–3 Southland
Pen: Ray Bell
Drop: L.S. Woodhouse		Pen: Tom Webster
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: Bill Firmin (Wellington)
17 August 1949
Otago 27–5 Waikato
Try: Graham Moore (2),
Willis Perriam,
R.F. Waldron,
Bert Lunn
Con: Willis Perriam (2),
Ray Bell
Pen: Willis Perriam,
Ray Bell		Try: B.A.C. Cowley
Con: G.R. Brunskill
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: W. Bruce Mitchell (Southland)
17 September 1949
Otago 6–5 Taranaki
Try: N.M. McKenzie
Pen: Ray Bell		Try: Roy Roper
Con: M.S. Cockerill
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: C.G. Wallace (Waikato)
28 September 1949
Otago 16–5 Auckland
Try: C.R. Moore,
Ray Bell,
Ross Wightman,
L.S. Woodhouse
Con: Ray Bell (2)		Try: Ivan Versalko
Con: R.G. Sorenson
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: George Sullivan (Taranaki)

References

  1. ^ "Shield Not In Danger". Otago Daily Times. 2 September 1946. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Thrilling Finish". Otago Daily Times. 4 August 1947. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Otago Plays Brilliant Rugby". Otago Daily Times. 11 August 1947. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. ^ "Otago's Field Day". Otago Daily Times. 29 September 1947. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Fine Team Work Retains Ranfurly Shield". Otago Daily Times. 2 August 1948. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Poverty Bay Outclassed". Gisborne Herald. 6 September 1948. Retrieved 6 August 2021.

Sources

  • "Ranfurly Shield". Rugby Redefined. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  • Knight, Lindsay (1980). Shield Fever. Rugby Press. ISBN 0-9597553-8-1.
  • Chester, Rod; McMillan, Neville; Palenski, Ron (1987). The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby. Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-16-3.